Sam Edward Root, age 83, of Miles City passed away on Monday, January 6, 2014 at his home in Miles City.
Sam was born on May 10, 1930 in Westmore, MT the son of Harry and Dora Root. The family moved to Miles City in 1933 where Sam attended school. Sam enlisted in the United States Army on November 25, 1947 and served in the Army for two years until his honorable discharge on November 24, 1949.
After the Army, Sam worked at the roundhouse on the Milwaukee Railroad, various construction jobs, and for Kiewit until his retirement. He married Phyllis Janisch and to this union three children were born, Tamara Lea, Anthony Joseph, and Timothy George. He later married the love of his life, Christine Spottedwolf, in Terry, MT. He and Christine made their home in Miles City and to this union they had two daughters, Delva and Kim. They remained married until Christine’s passing in 2003.
Sam enjoyed woodworking, gardening, collecting arrowheads and artifacts, boating, and riding motorcycles in his younger days. Sam truly loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sam is survived by his two daughters, Delva Johnson and Kim (Gregory) Justice both of Miles City; daughter Tamara (Gary) Hoppe of Billings, MT; two sons, Anthony Joseph Root of Coos Bay, OR, and Timothy George Root of Phoenix, AZ; one sister, Adeline Bartle; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Rita Root; and his two pets, Sammy and Tiger. Sam was preceded in death by his wife Christine; his parents Harry and Dora; two brothers, Dan and Ben Root, ex-wife Phyllis; one sister and one brother-in-law, Dorothy and Roy Slusher; and sister-in-law Onie Root.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2014 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City with full military honors. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday January 12, 2014
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Sreet
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 AM
Monday January 13, 2014
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment with Full Military Honors
Monday January 13, 2014
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday January 12, 2014
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Sreet
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 AM
Monday January 13, 2014
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment with Full Military Honors
Monday January 13, 2014
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Rhonda shumway says
Kim and Greg and family. Our thoughts are with you as you deal with the loss of your father and grandfather.
Dick Culver says
Worked a lot of good years alongside Sam. What a guy.
Jim & Cathy Bastian says
We are so sorry to hear of Sam’s passing, what a nice man he was!! He would come into Reynolds almost every morning and visit with us. We will miss seeing him! Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this difficult time.
Lori Hartse and Peggy Adamson says
Delva and Kim and all of your families:
We were so sorry to learn of father’s and grandfather’s passing. I (Lori) knew him for many years and he always treated me very kindly. We are both thinking of you during this difficult time.
Ruth Chandler Ferris says
I am so sorry for your loss.
I have many fond memories of Sam. He was a good man. I can still hear his laughter.
Carlene Root says
Kim and Greg, Sorry to hear about Sam’s passing. I remember years ago, when he was raising a garden, Clarence and I would go see him and get cantalopes from him. They were really good. We had a lot of good visits with him. Now, him and Clarence can visit in heaven. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Carlene Root.
Lynn and Cheryl Scheid says
We are going to miss him as our neighbor. We going to miss seeing him go by early in the morning for his daily loop around town and Spotted Eagle. Spent many hours visiting with him across the fence when he would be out in his field. Always very friendly and full of interesting stories. Sorry for your loss.
Ray & Rebecca Gookin says
We will miss Sam. Ray and Sam go back a long ways, from childhood thru working construction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all his family.
joanna reagor says
Mr. Root was my neighbor growing up for years! He was a great man with amazing aspects he will b greatly missed. I will never forget one year for halloween he made my sister and I goodie bages and gave them to us on my sisters he got her name right and on mine he wrote down muffin and muffin was my moms toy poodle 🙂 very great memories!
RALPH AND GLORIA DUNEMAN says
sorry to hear on sams passing we will keep the family in our prayers.